How to Use LiDAR on iPhone (and Why You Should)

To make the iPhone as capable, Apple equipped it with more sensors. One of these is the LiDAR scanner. LiDAR – short for Light Detection and Ranging – is a sensor that measures distances to develop a 3D map of the surroundings. It is particularly popular for helping self-driving cars to “see” the space around them, to map shorelines and terrain for assessment and research, and to scan existing building conditions.

The iPhone’s LiDAR sensor, however, offers more practical day-to-day uses. That little black circle next to the rear camera lens is actually responsible for some of the iPhone’s tricks that most people don’t know about — measuring a person’s height, AR gaming, and improved camera autofocus. Thanks to LiDAR on your iPhone, you can better interact with your environment.

However, it’s important to note that the LiDAR scanner is not a standard sensor on all iPhones. It’s only built into the Pro models of both the iPhone and iPad, starting with the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, and the 11-inch (second generation) and 12.9-inch (fourth generation) iPad Pro. If you have one of these devices, here’s how you can get started with LiDAR.

Read more: How to control an iPad with your iPhone

How to use your iPhone’s LiDAR sensor with native apps

You can easily try out the LiDAR scanner on your iPhone with just one native app: Measure. With LiDAR, Measure gets more advanced features such as person height measurement, virtual ruler, guide lines, detailed measurements and measurement history. Here’s how to use these LiDAR-powered features:

2. To measure an object:

   1. Move your phone until you see a circle with a center point on the screen.

   2. Place the dot over one end of the object you want to measure.

   3. If the point is on a straight edge, wait a few seconds for the yellow guide line to appear. The point will automatically snap to this guide line.

   4. Press the plus icon in the middle to save the starting point.

   5. Drag the dotted line to the other end of the object.

   6. Tap the plus icon again. The line will then become solid with the measurement and a virtual ruler displayed above the object.

   7. Tap the measurement to see more details, including elevation, distance to object, and angle of the measurement.

   8. To change the start and end points, long press on the point and reposition it. You should see the new measurement appear on the screen.

3. To measure someone’s height on iPhone:

   1. Point your iPhone at the person. Make sure their head and feet are in frame.

   2. Wait for the measurement to appear next to their head. This should happen automatically without any further input from you.

4. Press the capture button in the lower right corner to take a screenshot of the measurement.

To see the measurement history for the current session, press the icon in the upper left. You can select Copy to copy all measurements for use in another application or Clear all to clear your history.

How to use your iPhone’s LiDAR sensor with third-party apps

Beyond the Measure app, your iPhone’s LiDAR sensor also powers a slew of third-party apps. You can use it for several applications – probably the most popular of which is scanning and decorating the room. Room scanning apps like magicplan and the IKEA Kreative option in the IKEA app let you scan a room to generate accurate 3D models and 2D floor plans right on your iPhone. All you have to do is point the camera and sweep it across the room to capture every detail. Depending on the application, you can then decorate the space with furniture, measure the room or import the plan into professional software such as SketchUp and AutoCAD.

The LiDAR on your iPhone can also be useful for scanning 3D objects. With apps like 3d Scanner App and Polycam, you can create a 3D digital model of everyday objects for 3D printing or digital artwork. These apps work by simply moving your phone around the object to cover all parts.

In addition to camera scanners and 3D object creators, Augmented Reality (AR) gaming apps also harness the power of your iPhone’s LiDAR. The LiDAR sensor makes it possible for these apps to merge their virtual objects with your real surroundings. For example, in RC Club AR Racing Simulator, you can control a virtual RC car to move around your room. It can jump off the coffee table, drive across the floor, and crash into cards.

Accessibility for the visually impaired is another impactful application of the LiDAR scanner. Apps like Super Lidar and Obstacle Detector For Blind use the scanner to estimate the distance to obstacles. After determining the distance, audible and tactile alerts are sent to help the user navigate better.

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